Bye Bye Birdie, one of the most captivating musicals of our time, is the story of a popular rock and roll singer (Conrad Birdie, played by George M. Chavez) who is about to go into the army. His pleasant, mild mannered agent, Albert Peterson (Jeff Lucas) and Albert’s secretary, Rose (Erin Rivlin-Sakata) concocts one final national publicity plan before Conrad leaves the country. The plan is for Conrad to give one last kiss to a typical American teen-age girl. The lucky girl is Kim MacAfee (Brooke VanGrinsven) from Sweet Apple, Ohio.
Conrad’s arrival in Sweet Apple causes uproar among young and old as the women and girls swoon and the men and boys, including Kim’s boyfriend Hugo (Morgan Lauff), react with jealousy. Kim’s parents (Vincent Angelo and Tamarah Ashton-Coombs) prepare to appear on the Ed Sullivan show while lamenting the state of modern kids. Albert’s lead-footed, catastrophe-ridden mother, Mae (Patti Finley) adds to the general hilarity with her guilt-trips designed to keep Albert her little boy. Some of the toe-tapping tunes include Put on a Happy Face, How Lovely to be a Woman, Sincere and We Love You, Conrad.
Under the direction of Ingrid Boydston, the cast includes Allee Monheim, Amanda McAnany, Anita Wiggins, Bethany Sweany, Carla Bambo, Clare Tomkins-Cooke, Colin Robert, Greg Finley, Helen Sweany, Jack Matson, Janet Strauss, Jennifer Alexopoulos, Jeremy Wind, Joe Aboulafie, Joey Prate, John Morris, Kamber Moen, Kate Clarke, Kelly Bader, Kyle Stone, Lisa Aguayo Marc Deagon, Marina Moore, Melissa Joy Castro, Michelle Smith, Mike Davies, Mo Davis, Paige Aronson, Randy Aronson, Sean Stuart, Rena Bailey-Barrett, Shirley Laurino and Sonnie Gomez. Vocal Direction is by Leslie Berra with Musette Caing creating the choreography. Brian Watts is assistant director, Janet McAnany and Jill McGlynn are designing the costumes and Gary Schamber and Joe Schwarz will do set design.
Performances begin on March 23, with a champagne reception at 7:00 p.m. and will follow every Friday and Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. through April 28. There will be Saturday matinees at 1:00 p.m. on April 7, 14, 21 and 28, Sunday matinees at 1:00 p.m. on March 25, April 1, 15, 22, and 29. There will be Sunday twilight performances at 6:30 PM on April 22 and 29. There will not be any performances on Sunday, April 8. Tickets are $11, $14 and $17 and are available through the box office.
For more information, please call 661-799-2702.
